Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-11-30
TME oLp STATE HOUSE.

Rhe EuDAAc interest IN tine StfucEWre
Increases Now That Its Fate il to be
Decided by Popular Vote-What
Prof. Baldwin SRys-What Another
Prominent Citizen Says-The claim
That a Popular Vote VIII be Futile
to Decide the Question.
Now that the fate of the old State House is
to be decided by the voters of New Haven
the interest in the structure increases and
the question as to its demolition excites re-
newed public talk on the subject. The
members of the Historical society present at
the annual meeting of the society Monday
expressed lively interest in what Professor
Baldwin said on the subject What he said
was incorporated in his annual address and
has special interest as it is supposed to reflect
the views of large majority of the members
of the Historical society. He said as follows:
The year is also memorable for the resolve of the
people the question of repairing the building under
mon Council suggest in their report to that body
that If it be removed new building should be put
up on its site for the meetings OF the Historical So
in reference to the views of the society upon this
eide this State House question Without reference to
us and that in no event could we lend even the
to pull down solid and spacious edif1ce like this
worth $780, 600 in order to put up new one on the
There is better site, as the committee say, for
city building for public purposes than here in the
Green, and will add no modern architect, and we
have good ones in New Haven, could put this
rooms than that Which stands there and shelters us
tonight. 1t should have been repaired twenty
years ago. 1t should be repaired now, and the day
it is repaired according to the plans already ap-
proved by other common councils it will be wanted
and claimed for public purposes from basement to
attic.
From Another Prominent MAN eSNot
Town ROrn.''
| To the Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Fortunately for all parties the controversy
about the State House is apparently soon to
end. Your most frequent contributor has
told us over and over again how tired he was
i writing about the old relic. His last says he
is not only tired, but full, etc. If he is one
tenth as tired his readers he is an object
of sympathy. Clown Born" does not attempt
to present any arguments in favor of de-
stroying the building, but amuses himself
land no one else) by trying to be facetious
and ridicule those who differ from him. That
there is an honest difference of opinion
among our best citizens no one doubts; if
the vote results in favor of removing the
| building (Which good judges say will cost
| half as much as to restore i0 what then I?
l Are we to have the unsightly thing promptly
| removed 2 If SO, that would be some COM
pensation. But we are assured that parties
4 representing the county will place an in
/ junction on it's removal. In that
event who will predict when the end
will be? This influences me with
other reasons in my decision to vote
for its restoration when competent archi-
tects and builders assure US that SO far as
| the walls, floors and roof are concerned they
are in good condition. Now, putting all
| sentiment aside and looking at the question
| from an economical and practical stand
point, what does good judgment dictate?
Would any individual owning such build
| ing destroy it? Do other cities, like Hart
ford. New York and Philadelphia, destroy
1 their old public buildings? Oh, mol Many
of our taxpayers feel that while so much
| money is needed for improving our streets
and building sewers, that no excuse should
| be given for expanding $780, 200 for pur-
| chasing site and erecting building, which
| in all probability will be soon done if the
State House is removed. With the growth
of the city in the near future, every room in
| the building can be utilized by the city,
| town or county. Until thsn let such associ-
stions as 'fThe Associated Charities and
kindred organizations occupy the rooms
To the writer its destruction would be mex
cusable vandalism.
Nor Town BORN.
| What Another Prominent Man Says.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Said an eminent architect of this town to
| me the other day: "Any man that says the
State house is built of chips tells what is not
true"
Whoever will walk to the State House and
examine it's foundation which, fortunately
has been exposed by removing the marble
facing ian act of vandalism to make the
building present as bad appearance as possi-
1 ble), will see the solid East Haven stone as
| taken from the quarry, and the whole build
| ing is built of the same material with cross
| walks all giving the most substantial sup
| port. The columns not out of line. The
porticoes are supported by solid brick mason
~ as mentioned in the report of the build
| ing committee dated May 1S, 1881, q
copy of which was published in the
COURIER last week and we trust it will be
| repeated when necessary to show the case up
| in detail. It has often been said the county
has no right in the old State House. but ex-
| haustive search has failed to reveal any gift
of its interest to the city when the State gave
| up its right. Some argue that the county
| being part of the State, the State had right
to give up the county property whether it
| wanted to or not. The United States
might, in the same way, give it right to the
| custom house building to the town of Or
ange, because they are in the United States.
Said a bystander, all this nonsense the
people will not much longer stand.
The building is valuable for several pur-
1 poses anu We Will udIu0 IuFeS OF 1OUF, anu
we agree with the report that the site is
admirable for public library. The build
| ing at small expense can be fitted for it; also
for an industrial school, or for town and
| public hall. The town has lately annexed a
large area, more acreage than the whole city
covers, with population of three thousand
souls and grand list of millions, and not
one foot has been prepared to allow this
most thrifty and industrious people to as
| semble upon for town meetings. This is an
outrage here in country where the people
are the sovereigns, that they have not a
| place to rest foot as townsmen.
The Grand Army of the Republic should
have quarters in the State House and the
| time is not far distant when the city and
| town will want room for offices.
1t is only thirteen years since the courts
moved out of the building and as the county
still holds claim the city has no right to
| vote either way in the matter. All to be
gained by this move that we can see is to get
an opinion from the people of the city, and
this will not settle the matter, as the town of
New Haven and of the twenty-four county
| towns will have their say.
AS for the Historical society, they will
move out at any time; but as the members
of the Historical society are taxpayers they
propose to enjoy the privilege of other citi-
zens and not be choked off because some en-
| inent penny -a-liner sees fit to abuse them.